The term still life refers to a category of art that depicts inanimate objects, often arranged in a pleasing or dramatic way. A still life can depict anything from fruit and flowers to bottles and books. This genre is one of the oldest in Western art, dating back to the time of ancient Egypt and Greece. Throughout history, artists have used still lifes as a means of exploring the nature of reality and the relationship between objects and their environment.

One of the main characteristics of still life is the use of light and shadow. By carefully manipulating these elements, artists can create a sense of depth and form that brings objects to life on canvas. In addition, still lifes often display a range of colours, textures and shapes. This variety helps to create a sense of movement and interest, even if the scene is ultimately static. Whether simple or complex, still lifes offer a glimpse into another world, a world where time stands still and objects take on new meaning. For viewers, these paintings can be both captivating and challenging, reminding us that even the most mundane objects can be beautiful when seen through the eyes of an artist.

Paul Cézanne and Max Beckmann are two artists who used still life as a means to explore the nature of form and colour. For Cézanne, still life was a way to understand how objects relate to each other in space as in The Apple Basket. He often painted fruit scenes or table settings, analysing the relationships between objects and the negative space around them. Beckmann, on the other hand, used still life as a means to explore light and shadow. His paintings often feature candles or lamps, which create a striking contrast between light and darkness. In both cases, the artists use still life as a means of investigating the formal properties of paint.

Would you like to buy reproductions of paintings by Max Beckmann? Discover all our high quality reproductions by Galerie Mont-Blanc. We also offer reproductions of paintings by Paul Cézanne.